State Expands Infrastructure, Diagnostics, and Home Care in Ambitious Public Health Push
Shimla – In a sweeping overhaul of its public health system, the Himachal Pradesh government has launched a host of transformative initiatives aimed at ensuring accessible, modern, and equitable healthcare across the state. Over the last two and a half years, the government has prioritized healthcare as a core pillar of development, with a focus on capacity building, infrastructure upgrades, recruitment, and diagnostics.
“The real measure of progress lies in the strength of our health and education systems. Himachal is on track to become a national model in healthcare delivery,” said a government spokesperson on Sunday.
Expanding Reach: 2,926 Health Facilities Serving Millions
With six medical colleges, three zonal hospitals, nine regional hospitals, 92 civil hospitals, and over 2,100 sub-health centers, the state now provides healthcare to even the most remote villages through its 2,926 government health institutions. Between January 2023 and December 2024, these facilities served over 3.27 crore OPD and 37.5 lakh IPD patients.
Upgraded Infrastructure Across the State
Key infrastructure upgrades include:
- Civil Hospital Kaza (Lahaul-Spiti) expanded from 20 to 50 beds
- Hospitals in Sujanpur, Sunni, and Haroli upgraded to 100 beds
- ESIC Hospital in Gagret (Una) converted into a full-fledged Civil Hospital
- New PHCs and sub-health centres opened in Sirmaur and Solan
- Block Medical Offices set up in Baddi, Jai Singhpur, and Dehra
Model Health Institutions in Every Assembly Constituency
The government has launched a unique initiative to establish 69 Model Health Institutions — one in each of the 68 Assembly constituencies, with two in Lahaul-Spiti. Each center will be staffed with six medical specialists (medicine, surgery, gynecology, pediatrics, anesthesiology, and radiology) and offer 134 diagnostic tests.
Key upgrades in these institutions include:
- Ultrasound and digital X-ray machines
- MRI and CT scan facilities in select phases
- Dialysis units in all 69 model centers
- Blood storage units in 11 key locations
Boost to Human Resources
To strengthen service delivery, the state has:
- Recruited 185 Medical Officers and 130 Staff Nurses
- Created 491 additional posts for critical healthcare roles
Technology and Equipment Investment
The 2025–26 budget earmarks ₹1,730 crore for modern medical equipment procurement. Advanced imaging technologies, including MRI and PET scan machines, are being installed at major institutions such as IGMC Shimla and AIIMS Chamiyana.
New Elderly Care Scheme Launched
A flagship initiative, the Mukhyamantri Vridhjan Dekhbhal Yojana, will provide home-based healthcare services to citizens aged 70 and above, ensuring that senior citizens in rural and urban areas alike have access to regular medical attention.
